Offshoots of Growth: SVP

I remember how I always wanted to bring about change in the society, to help people in need, to empower women and make them self-sufficient.

Becoming a part of Project Azmat made all this possible for me! I cannot begin to express in words how it feels, having the power to bring a change in the lives of those women while watching them smile and work for something that gives them joy and dignity.

We recently organized two rounds of the Student Volunteer Programme (SVP) as part of this project. The program was designed with an aim to serve the two-fold objective of supplementing the community’s income and also widening our customer base to residential areas.  We invited volunteers from different colleges to sell 15 kg of our detergent, "Neki Supreme" at Rs.70 each. The rule was simple - sell the stock within a time frame of 15 days and in return, take home a letter of appreciation from Enactus SRCC. An incentive that worked wonders in the past, when we'd conducted the first phase of SVP last year, making us believe that we could do it again this year as well.

Easier said than done! Implementation of such a program entailed large scale production, to begin with. But with Diwali just around the corner, the whole event acquired an almost festive air! The women worked relentlessly with renewed zeal and an unbending will to defy the odds and accomplish the challenge that the situation posed. Things unfolded with pleasant outcomes. They managed to produce 435 kgs on a rather short notice. At this point, the onus of the whole project’s success shifted to the hands of the volunteers who sized up the situation and did not let us down. The first round delivered a perfect launch, and the entire detergent was sold within the required time frame!

In the wake of this phenomenal response, we embarked upon the second round with much optimism and confidence. This involved a further production and distribution of 480 kgs of detergent, resulting in further financial consolidation.

Diwali came by, and so did the smiles on the faces of these women.
As Deeksha, another team member would put it:

"Under Project Azmat

The pleasure of detergent making

With women so committing

The blessings we received

And the bonds we weaved

Gave me unforgettable memories

Of those serene Nekpur streets"

Working for these women has always been a  pure pleasure. We all look forward to a great and eventful year ahead!!

- Aisha Khandelwal